1. Mastering
Workplace
Performance
The Womack Company
Presented by: Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA
Peter Drucker
Follow effective action with quiet reflection.
From the quiet reflection will come even more
effective action.
Helen Keller
I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but
it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as
if they were great and noble.
Steve Jobs
Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't
used to an environment where excellence is
expected.
Carol Bartz
Wherever you are in your organization or your
career, you can work on leadership. My
definition of a leader is someone who helps
people succeed at what needs to be done.
! 1
2. Table of Contents and Overview of MWP Principles
Mastering Workplace Performance .................................................................................. Page 3
Self-Assessment / Possible Areas for Improvement ........................................................ Page 4
Defining Productivity and Purpose ................................................................................... Page 5
Start where you are (besides the seminar, what else is on your mind?) .................... Page 6
Practice Makes Comfortable ............................................................................................ Page 7
A Philosophy of Productivity: “At my best when...” ......................................................... Page 8
Your Daily Dashboard (areas of focus to plan and act on)................................................ Page 9
A “Digital” Daily Dashboard ............................................................................................. Page 10
Productivity Enhancement: Maximize Interruptions ........................................................ Page 11
Agendas: A tool to maximize interruptions ...................................................................... Page 12
Building Digital Agendas ................................................................................................. Page 13
Time Management: Issues and Solutions ........................................................................ Page 14
Prioritization: Getting the RIGHT things done .................................................................. Page 15
Identifying and Prioritizing the 3 Kinds of Work ............................................................... Page 16
The Outcomes You’re Managing (Project Inventory) .................................................... Pages 17-18
The work you have to “do” (To Do lists) ....................................................................... Pages 19-20
Designing an “electronic” system to manage to-dos and projects .................................. Page 21
Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan ................................................................................. Page 22
Moving on from where you were (besides the seminar, what else is on your mind?) ....... Page 23
3 Tips to Maximize Your Email Messages ......................................................................... Page 24
Debrief: The Week, Significant Projects, Important Events .......................................... Pages 25-26
The Womack Company ......................................................................................................Page 27
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3. Mastering Workplace
Performance
Maximize your productivity:
Today, you will see, hear and practice ways to utilize your resources and
improve the quality of your work. Doing so, you will more consistently get the
right things done. Experience fundamental principles of performance to
maximize your productivity.
Be, work and live at your best:
Being productive means you are managing current priorities while taking full
advantage of new opportunities. To be, work and live at
your best, you need to have a firm grasp of what your
priorities are and synchronize them with the priorities of
the team and your organization.
Achieve greater and more rewarding results:
We will work together to design behaviors and systems leading to constant
improvement, resulting in achievements that are meaningful. The productivity
principles we coach are simple enough to use, and significant enough to matter.
In this seminar you will see how your workflow can unfold in a more productive
and more sustainable way. You will put yourself in the position of taking
calculated and consistent action steps towards a larger vision of yourself and
your role within the organization.
Mastering Workplace Performance Jason@WomackCompany.com 805-798-1362 ! 3
4. Self-Assessment / Possible Areas for Improvement
Ineffective / Not efficient Ranking Productive
<---1----2----3----4--- 5--->
TIME: I do not have a daily I create a daily plan each
planning system to prioritize morning. I re-prioritize tasks
my tasks and activities. based on new information.
INTENTION: I start many I complete projects,
tasks and projects, but don’t managing deadlines and
finish them right away. interruptions effectively.
COMMITMENT: The work I actively participate in the
will get done, whether I give planning and execution of the
my 100% or not. work my team has to do.
MINDSET: I doubt my I am confident that I have
contribution and am quiet skills and professional skills to
about my opinions. enhance the work we do.
CHANGE: I get frustrated “Shift happens,” and I am
and tired by the amount of ready to re-engage when new
times things change. information appears.
MOTIVATION: I don’t see I have a clear vision for
how I can grow out of my growth, and am actively
current position/situation. pursuing ways to improve.
DELEGATION: I don’t I practice effective delegation
delegate. When I do, I have techniques & regularly discuss
to re-explain what I need. delegation with the team.
ACCOUNTABILITY: I I let people know when they
refrain from giving negative are off-course immediately,
or course-corrective feedback. and then move on.
PRESENTATION: I shy I seek opportunities to share
away from making my knowledge, expertise and
presentations at meetings. opinions in meetings.
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5. The Defining Moment
Productivity is:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The primary requirement for a successful work session is to define “reality.” Knowing the objectives,
tasks and priorities sets you up to be most productive.
Productivity is really about getting the Right things done. There are 4 areas to address:
S ______________________________ (Skills)
P ______________________________ (Purpose)
N ______________________________ (Network)
D ______________________________ (Direction)
Your own “So that...”
The characteristics that are a part of your own workplace performance - how you behave, react, plan
and act at work - are founded in the purpose of you being productive. After today’s course, spend
some time completing this statement:
“I will identify my work philosophy and improve my management methods so that __________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.”
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6. Start Where You Are (besides the seminar, what else is on your mind?)
Using the words below, write down the first things that come to mind - as many as possible - that still
need some of your attention and some action to complete.
call
write
draft
talk to
identify
organize
complete
clarify
install
update
fix
handle
plan
learn
read
buy
work on
meet with
supplies
trips
projects
finances
books
personal
tools/gear
electronics
classes
coworkers
family members
year-long objectives
professional development
anything else...
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
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7. Practice makes ...
...comfortable!
Before embarking on a journey to learn NEW skills, NEW technologies, NEW
habits, start where you are. What are you already doing?
What takes up your time, energy and focus by 10am most work days?
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
What tools, systems, technologies, gear could you use during the work-day?
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
What can you do about once a month to rejuvenate, revitalize & reengage?
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
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8. Beginning with a “Philosophy of Productivity”
The MIQs (Most Important Questions)
1.Do you want to be more productive?
2.Do you do what you said you would do...in the time you promised?
3.Do you use the small windows of time during the day to get important things done?
In order to work, be, perform and live at your 100% ... what will you have to have done?
I am at my best when ...
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Jason@WomackCompany.com ! 8
9. !
Interruption / Topic MITs Today’s Daily Plan Today’s Date________
(Most Important Things) 8 ________________________________
__________________________ General Level of Focus
__________________________ 4 or fewer each day 8:30 _____________________________
__________________________
__________________________ 9 ________________________________
__________________________ Motivation Toward Day
__________________________ 9:30 _____________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________ 10 _______________________________
__________________________
__________________________ 10:30 ____________________________ Other notes...
__________________________
__________________________ Started Waiting For... 11 __________________________________ Reacted (past tense) to
As
__________________________ 11:30 _______________________________
(Name) (Item)
__________________________
12 __________________________________
__________________________ _______ _________________
__________________________ 12:30 _______________________________
_______ _________________
__________________________ 1 ___________________________________
__________________________ _______ _________________ 1:30 _______________________________
__________________________
_______ _________________ 2 _________________________________
__________________________
__________________________ 2:30 _______________________________
_______ _________________
__________________________ Made Progress on... 3 __________________________________ Forecast (future) toward
_______ _________________
__________________________ _______ _________________ 3:30 _______________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________ 4 _________________________________
__________________________
__________________________ 4:30 _______________________________
__________________________
__________________________
Your Daily Dashboard (areas of focus to plan and act on)
__________________________ 5 __________________________________
__________________________
__________________________ 5:30 _______________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________ 6 _________________________________
__________________________
9
__________________________
10. A “Digital” Daily Dashboard
It is possible to use Microsoft® Outlook® to create a “Daily Dashboard.”
For example:
For complete instructions, and a 30+ page guide of best practices, please visit:
http://www.OutlookDashboard.com
As a participant in today’s seminar, you get *free* access to the PDF eBook: Maximizing Microsoft®
Outlook®. If you would like that document, simply visit:
http://www.womackcompany.com/olda/
the password to that site is: mwp
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11. Productivity Enhancement: Maximize Interruptions
Interruptions of “task momentum” are frequently cited reasons for NOT getting the Most
Important Things done during the work day. After surveying 1,000 senior executives,
technology research firm Basex found that people can lose two hours per day from unnecessary
interruptions such as instant messaging, deleting distribution list or spam e-mail, telephone calls,
informal conversations, etc.
Study and Practice the
! ! “Cycle of Completion”
I. Begin: Initiate an idea, create a project, decide on an action
II. Plan: Create a schedule, enlist support
III. Engage: Begin working, ask for clarification, test results
IV. Monitor: Review progress, troubleshoot and enhance outcomes
V. Evaluate: Debrief all processes involved in the project (personnel, deliverables,
project plan, etc)
http://tinyurl.com/P-interruption
11
12. Agendas: A tool to maximize interruptions
Names Upcoming topics of discussion
Questions/Comments/Clarifications/Requests (1-12 weeks out...)
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13. Building Digital Agendas
It is possible to use Microsoft® Outlook® to create your “Agendas.”
For example:
Each “person/meeting/event” gets its own Subject heading. Then, in the “Notes” area of the task,
enter the things you know you need to bring up in conversation.
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14. Time Management: Issues and Solutions
Time Management: Issues
I get “caught up” feeling like there is too much to do, so I don’t do the
important things (instead, I reprocess the same email, reorganize papers,
let myself get interrupted/interrupt other people, etc)
I forget to work on the MITs (Most Important Things) during the work
day, and sometimes stay after hours (or come in early in the morning)
I occasionally let interruptions get the best of me, taking up the time I
previously planned to be productive.
Time Management: Solutions
Learn how the “productivity features” of my electronic systems (email,
voicemail, voice-to-text transcription, cell phone/smart phone, etc).
Objectify my goals and projects, and review them to create daily and
weekly plans to achieve them.
Conduct morning AND afternoon reviews: Identify priorities for the day,
AND debrief the work day, learning what worked and what did not work
for me.
Use my time and task management system to make best use of “down
time,” “in between time” or “wasted time.” (Waiting for meetings to start,
etc)
Invite constructive feedback from directors, managers and supervisors
about how I can be more effective and efficient on the job.
Clearly and objectively list all the tasks that are required to make
progress on my short and medium term projects.
Analyze different aspects of my workflow, prioritization and organization
to look for small, sustainable enhancements to my productivity.
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15. Prioritization: Getting the RIGHT things done
important + ________________
+ ________________
+ ________________
not
important
not urgent urgent
Project A tasks Project B tasks
100
Percieved Effort
80
60
41
21
1
1 20.8 40.6 60.4 80.2 100
Anticipated Value
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16. Identifying and Prioritizing the 3 Kinds of Work
Work you are thinking, talking and meeting about.
“What should you be expected to contribute?”
“What hampers you in doing your task and should be eliminated?”
- Peter Drucker
Work you are managing, overseeing and planning.
“A wow project confronts and redefines an important issue or problem.”
- Tom Peters
Work you are doing, delegating and tracking.
“Sustained success means making the greatest possible impact...”
- Marcus Buckingham
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17. The Outcomes You’re Managing (Project Inventory)
Many activities are part of a “bigger picture.” It is very valuable to identify the Final
Valuable Result of the work you manage. The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People (by
Stephen Covey) suggests we “begin with an end in mind.” (see www.BooksWeRecommend.com)
When we identify the end point, we create boundaries to guide our tasks, meetings and
activities. Defining our work is a significant part of the process of productivity and
performance.
After you review (daily) your list of things to do...
...build in time to review (weekly) your list of things to manage.
It’s usually easiest to think in terms of Outcome Vocabulary:
(Complete, Install, Submit, Organize, Finalize, Set up, etc)
Examples:
Complete automated SF-182 plan to management team
Install Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system
Submit MS PowerPoint 2007 presentation on skilled nursing facilities (SNF)s
Organize trade show set up and product launch for the client month event
Identify several multi-step projects you are managing…
____________ ________________________________________________________
____________ ________________________________________________________
____________ ________________________________________________________
____________ ________________________________________________________
____________ ________________________________________________________
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19. The work you have to “do” (To Do lists)
A simple change in focus provides control over the list of things on your mind (as well as the
list of things in your E-mail inbox!). Move away from making lists of things to think about
toward listing tasks you can actually do the next time you are:
at the office,
at a phone or
on the web, etc.
It is often easier to think – and work – using “task verbs.”
(Call, E-mail, Buy, Draft, Waiting for, Test, Review, etc)
Write down one VERY next task
Examples
Call
Maria
S.
re:
Finance
and
Budget
mee3ng
loca3on
on
Tuesday
(202-‐602-‐9100)
Go
to
bookstore
:
“Project
Management
PMBOK”
(Project
Management
Ins4tute)
Dra*
Intro
to
presenta3on
for
the
Deputy
Assistant
Secretary
of
Housing
Talk
to
(in
person)
John
R.
re:
training
proposal
Email:
Steve
B.
re:
assistance
with
comple3ng
the
Individual
TAP
(ITAP)
Identify your very next actions…
____________ ________________________________________________________
____________ ________________________________________________________
____________ ________________________________________________________
____________ ________________________________________________________
____________ ________________________________________________________
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20. List as many to-dos as possible using “task verbs.”
(Call, E-mail, Buy, Draft, Waiting for, Test, Review, etc)
____________ ________________________________________________________
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21. Designing an “electronic” system to manage to-dos and projects
Using Microsoft® Outlook®, it is possible to add Projects and Tasks to your Dashboard...
Project: The overall outcome
Task: To dos and action steps to make progress on each outcomes
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22. Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan
Too often, it is tempting to keep “goal setting” to a period of just a few weeks during the annual
objective-setting process at work. Whether you begin at the individual and then department level,
or are involved in setting corporate direction and top-down goals, it is necessary to plan your work
and to work your plan - throughout the entire year!
The Secret to Goal Achievement and Professional Success:
Begin It is especially important that you stop,
review, and reflect on your priorities at the Achievement Formula
beginning of the goal-setting process.
Consider sitting down with a mentor, coach or manager
and discuss specific ideas and goals for the next 9-18 Goals
months. Total time invested should be about 60 minutes, + Planning
you’ll then have enough to think about as you create your
goals. + Action
+ Debrief
Check back in on your goals at
= Success
Continue least weekly. Create daily tasks,
meetings and milestones that will
get you moving toward the outcomes you outlined during
the goal-setting process. At least monthly, set a meeting with someone to share the process and what
you’re experiencing.
By keeping your goals close, you’ll be able to progress on them. Taking calculated and significant
actions each day
Practice on the small things. Create daily milestones, as small as, “By
Expect more 3:30pm I’m going to submit this report.” This has a lasting and
expanding effect. When we say what we are going to do and then do
it, we put into perpetual motion a process of layering success on success. Do “goal setting” throughout
the year, and you’ll find yourself looking for more, working on more, and achieving more; more of the
Most Important Things...
1. Meet with someone who challenges you to “think bigger.”
2. “Advertise” your goals where you can see/reflect on them often.
3. Practice goal setting on “smaller” things; the process carries over.
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23. Moving on from where you were...
Using the words below, write down the first things that come to mind - as many as possible - that still
need some of your attention and some action to complete.
call
write
draft
talk to
identify
organize
complete
clarify
install
update
fix
handle
plan
learn
read
buy
work on
meet with
supplies
trips
projects
finances
books
personal
tools/gear
electronics
classes
coworkers
family members
year-long objectives
professional development
anything else...
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
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24. 3 Tips to Maximize Your Email Messages
Most people’s email inbox contains old and new messages with some that need to be replied to
and others that might needed for later. Here are a few ways to cut down on the clutter by clarifying
just what's in there.
Use smart EMAIL "Etiquette". When you create a new email message, you can
increase the likelihood of a quick
response by using the 3 address fields to your
greatest advantage.
Edit the SUBJECT LINES opening,emails in
your inbox. Instead of
of the
reading,
Email Address Fields:
and closing emails to do later, change the subject line TO: Only the person(s) who needs to take
of that email to tell yourself exactly what you need to action.
do. Clarify the action you need by answering as many CC: People who may be interested or need
of the "who, what, where, why & by when" questions to be "kept in the loop", no action required
as possible. You can do that in Outlook by editing the though.
message (double click to open the message) and BCC: Yourself, your assistant, or a big
then type in the new subject line directly. group announcement (i.e. Distribution List).
This way if someone hits "Reply All" only
For example, when you receive an email with: the sender & receiver get the response.
SUBJECT: budget meeting
Edit the subject line to:
SUBJECT: Call Kevin re: budget meeting 4/22
If you do this as e-mails show up, you will spend less time opening, closing, and searching for e-
mails later. Your email inbox will look more like a To-Do list that you can actually do!
subject lines for your outgoing email messages using this same strategy. Your
Write emails will be answered more quickly as people will actually know what is needed
without having to spend extra time to open and read your message.
1. Use the To, CC, and BCC fields to determine who has the Action
2. Edit the Subject line to include: who, what, where and by when info
3. Write emails with clear and direct Subject lines
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25. Debrief: The Week, Significant Projects, Important Events
How can you most effectively organize the future (decisions to make, projects to
review, meetings to plan, trips to take) to compete with the present (e-mails to send,
calls to make, errands to run)?
A sustainable solution to work, information and action overload is to specifically
and strategically review everything that has your attention.
Consider planning time to step back and over-view your work. To begin, we suggest
you make a 5-hour commitment.
For the next 5 weeks, take one hour per week to go
through the following exercise. (Be sure to choose a time
and a day that will work for you!) At the end of a month
you’ll have some objective feedback…enough to answer
the question, “Was it worth it?”
We believe the answer is yes…and many clients have told us so over the years!
We have found that there is incredible value in renegotiating your “Projects” list weekly.
Make this the place to begin your weekly debrief.
! 25
26. Debrief Weekly
So, what would you want to review? We suggest you review anything that has your
attention.
Review each project you’re managing and ask yourself:
Where am I?
Where did I say I would be?
What do I need to do next to continue my momentum?
Here are some questions that may add actions to your TASK list:
What will the end of next week look like?
Where do I need support?
Where could I solicit/ask for/collect more information?
Then, you will want to at least “glance” at the following areas:
! Calendar (last two weeks)
! Calendar (next two weeks)
! Goals/Projects/Deliverables
! Notes taken during meetings this week
! E-mails in the in-box
! Task/To Do lists
! Follow up calls/E-mails to customers/team members
! Creative ideas to break down into next actions
!
There may be other areas you add to this list. The most important thing to remember
for the first few weeks is: Don’t use your Debrief time to DO your work; use it to
REVIEW the work you have done, and the work you have yet to do.
! 26
27. The Womack Company
Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA provides practical methods to maximize tools,
systems and processes to achieve quality work/life balance. He has worked with
leaders and executives for over 16 years in the business and education sectors.
His focus is on creating ideas that matter and implementing solutions that are
valuable to the organization and the individuals in those organizations.
Jason is an avid learner who earned two Master's
degrees after studying US History and Spanish
Literature as an undergraduate student at the
University of California (Berkeley, Santa Barbara,
San Diego campuses).
He earned his Masters Degree in Education to
understand how to teach. in 2001, he returned to
academia to earn his Master’s Degree in
Psychology to find out how people most
effectively learn. He applies this wealth of knowledge to corporate learning
environments to help solve the day-to-day challenges of work/life balance in an
era of increased personal accountability.
In 2010, Jason published his first book, The Promise Doctrine: A guidebook and
system for consistently delivering on your promises, co-written with his father,
Craig P. Womack - former COO and President of The Sharper Image and former
COO of Smith and Hawken.
Jason succeeds in the health and wellness areas of his life. While traveling
worldwide, he trains and competes regularly as an age-group triathlete. Since
2000, he has completed six 1/2 Ironman distance races, several half-marathons
and several smaller triathlons around the United States. Jason consistently
places in the top 10% of his age group in both 5K and 10K races.
In October, 2010 he earned first place in his age group at the Carpinteria
Triathlon (California). His 2009 PR for the ½ marathon distance race is 1:30:37.
Jason applies his expertise in work performance into his athletic goals to create
exceptional personal and professional results.
Jason’s next book, “Your Best Just Got Better”
is due to be published later in 2011.
! !
The Womack Company US: 805.640.6401 UK: 020 8144 7000 www.WomackCompany.com ! 27
